Where is the toilet on the bus. The delicious and amazing city of Porto

We were in Porto at the end of February, beginning of March 2017.
According to numerous reviews on the Internet, at first there was an opinion that the city should be seen passing through, but we took a chance and went there for a week. And they never regretted it. In the future, we plan to return here, since we did not have time to see everything that we had planned during this trip.
So, in order and with prices:
The city map was taken at the information desk at the airport for free. From the airport to the center by metro. The metro is at the exit from the airport, follow the signs, don't get lost.
Directions in the city that we used:
1. Metro. The price of the trip depends on the zone you are going to, but we had no more than 2 euros per trip. When you buy for the first time, you buy a card and top it up at the machines at the entrance to the metro You can pay with a change or a card. I turned to people for help, but I didn’t deal with this machine. In Lisbon, they were in 2 languages, but here only in Portuguese came across.
2. Trams. In Porto they are a tourist attraction, but the locals use them too. We paid the fare to the tram driver: 3 euros. There are 3 lines in the city: You can sit in the center. Number 22 drives only in the center. Number 18 is from the center and a little bit along the promenade. Number 1 from the center to the ocean. Keep your ticket, when you visit the tram museum, it gives a 30% discount on entry.
3. Lift near the Don Luis Bridge. The price is 2.5 euros one way. We took it up. Down we went along the picturesque street Arnaldo Gama, because we passed the entrance to the lift. It looks like the entrance to an underground passage.
4. Cable car. Being on the opposite side, passed through the bridge of Don Luis. The panoramas are stunning over the city. The ticket office is located on the -1 floor, landing at -2. The return ticket price is 8 euros and gives a ticket for a free port wine tasting, but we did not use it. Ride back and forth. I advise you to ride from top to bottom, it will take your breath away.
5. Tourist double-decker buses. There are as many as 3 companies in Porto. We used yellow, there is Russian. Russian is declared at number 7, but in fact it is either 8th or 9th, look for it, the translation is very decent. We took a ticket for 2 days to have time to travel on 2 routes. The price is 15 euros. Moreover, these tickets could be used on public transport, we went on them late in the evening on the 2nd day from the ocean to the center by bus number 500.
There are other ticket options on the tourist buses with the addition of Douro River excursions and wine tasting.
5. On foot. On foot, on foot and again on foot. Leisurely, looking at houses and people. But do not forget that the city stands on the hills and it is better to move around the city in comfortable shoes, without a heel. The houses in the center are a different story, some narrow, low and high, amazing, with ancient mosaics on the walls, in varying degrees of shabby. Charming. The map went to many sights. We went into all the temples that came across on the road, the beauty is extraordinary. In the Clerigos church they climbed the bell tower. Attention: there is no lift. Price 4 euros with a visit to the museum. It was raining, but because of this, the views from the tower were no less beautiful.
We walked along the ocean, more than once, a very convenient embankment, watched the sunset, watched the storm, beauty, strength, power. We walked and ate fried chestnuts, which are sold in such portable mini kitchenettes. The price for a bag is 2 euros or something ... Shops: In Pingo Doce supermarkets they bought water, beer, fruit, bread and other goodies. Then we discovered the Mercado do Bolh? O market located on Rua de S? da Bandeira. There are fruits, souvenirs, fish, and port, in general, a lot of things. The price tag for magnets, mugs and other souvenirs is cheaper than in the shops of the center. For example, a mug on the market 3.5-5 euros, in the center from 7 euros. Magnets from 1.5 euros, "wholesale" is even cheaper, in the center from 2.5 euros ... Well, Portuguese cockerels, respectively, too, of different sizes and colors.
There are also Chinese shops, but not many, they work from the morning and until late, without a break for a siesta, there we saw Chinese purses from a cork for 1.25 euros, similar ones we saw on sale in the center, but a piece of "Made in China" )) is torn off.
Pedestrian shopping street Santa Catarina. At the end of February there were still sales, of course, we could not refuse and bought ourselves a pair of Portuguese shoes. During this period, prices were reduced by 30-50 and even 70%. Paradise for shopaholics. Food: We lived in a hotel, breakfast was included, but lunch or dinner in the city. Restaurants in the center are more expensive than in the outskirts, but if you search you can find them in the center. We dined on a check for 1 person from 8 to 12 euros (fish or meat, salad, side dish, wine or beer). The portions are really big. The fish is delicious. Grilled, no sauces, everything in its own juice. In the port (there is a stop at the yellow buses "Restaurants", there is a 500 bus running there) went to a fish restaurant, wanted to repeat it, but came to 18.00, we were told that they were already closing. There the price tag was higher, but not by much, the fish is amazing, the explosion of taste buds) What did not have time, but wanted: We wanted to take a helicopter over the city. Price 150 euros. There are 3 places. If three of us, then 50 euros per person. If the two are together, then 75 euros. Flight time is 10 minutes. They say the views are amazing.
There are also rides by tuk-tuk both in the center and along the embankment, but it was quite cool and the minus was that the driver himself conducts the tour in Portuguese and English. In general, this is not an option for us.
Zoo and Oceanarium. They say about the aquarium that it is more aimed at a family pastime, there are many interactive things for kids. While the aquarium in Lisbon has not overshadowed anything, it is huge and chic there. We have little information on the zoo, but all information can be obtained from the numerous tourist offices in Porto.
We did not have time to walk on the other side of the Douro River and visit the wine cellars. But we nevertheless tasted the port at the Douro and Porto Institute of Wine on Ferreira Bordes Street (marked on the city map). There is a tasting room on the right at the entrance. Tasting is paid from 1.2 to 9.90 euros per glass. And since we do not understand anything at all in port, we asked the employee of this hall to pour for us to our taste. To say it's delicious, to say nothing, in general, we bought a bottle of Tawny porto for 10 years for 23.50 euros. Porto is a beautiful colorful city, the Portuguese are wonderful people. In the whole trip there was not a second that darkened our journey. I wish you to visit this amazing city too.

Portugal is a place where a tourist from any country will feel quite comfortable. The locals are quite good-natured and not conflicted, it is easy to find a common language with them. They have great respect and a sense of gratitude for all kinds of attempts by tourists to communicate in their native language.

Don't worry, the language barrier won't ruin your vacation. It is enough to make it clear with gestures that you need help or that you are in a difficulty, and a crowd of sympathetic and willing Portuguese people will gather around you. Curiosity is their main national trait. They treat children especially warmly, even if they make noise or cry.

Time in Portugal

The time in Portugal is 2 hours behind the time in Russia in the whole continental part and Madeira, and in the Azores by 3 hours. For example, when in Moscow it is 10:00, in Lisbon this time is 08:00, and in the Azores it is 7 in the morning.

In Portugal, there is a transition to winter time. In winter, the time is 3 hours behind (from MSC) on the continent and in Madeira and 4 hours behind in the Azores.

Tourist Information Offices

First-hand information for tourists and travelers or Posto de turismo (Send de turizmu).

Portugal is divided into several tourist regions, each of the largest cities in each region has a Municipal Tourist Office or Posto de turismo... Opening hours are usually similar to those of local shops. Tourist offices in Portugal can be found at airports, in major cities and most localities. Typically these offices are marked with an “i”.

These offices have people who will help you learn about events and news, attractions, festivals. You can also purchase tickets for some museums, municipal theaters, concerts or excursions.

You can borrow maps, handouts and route brochures free of charge from the tourist office. In these offices you can buy souvenirs and products of the region.

Picnics in parks and beaches in Portugal

Dedicated to lovers of barbecue. In Portugal, it is strictly forbidden to make a fire in parks and on beaches, for which there is a heavy fine, and in some cases even arrest. But, there are specially equipped places for relaxation with tables, barbecue, water pipes and even a toilet.

They are called "Parque das Merendas" (park dash mendash). Here you can safely settle down to relax and use these amenities completely free of charge. The main thing is not to litter and clean up after yourself.

In addition, a dinner with a bottle of green wine on the ocean coast or on a hill from which the sunset will be perfectly visible can be very romantic.

Public toilets

We could not ignore this issue. In Portugal, toilets are called casa de banho (kaza de banya). If there are no traditional graphic images on the doors, then we look at what words are there. If a Homens (ommensch) or Cavalheiros (kavaleirush) - it means this is a men's toilet, if Senhoras (senoras) or Damas (damash) means a ladies' room.

There are public toilets at train and bus stations, shopping centers and gas stations on the highway.

If you walk around the city for a long time and you or your child need to visit this very room, then you can go to the nearest cafe, and take a bottle of water or a cup of coffee, and while he is getting ready to visit casa de banho.

Beware of pickpockets and scammers

On vacation, we first of all want to thoroughly relax and forget about troubles. But in no case should you lose your vigilance, otherwise rest can turn into a continuous disorder. By observing a few simple rules, you can protect yourself from pickpockets and scammers, which, by the way, are enough everywhere.

• I will not tire of repeating it, this rule concerns money. Do not shine with multi-colored bills and do not take out a demonstratively tightly stuffed wallet. It is better to keep large sums in the hotel safe, or even better on a card. Take small amounts of money with you for a walk. It is better to put the bills in different pockets or in a special bag on the belt than to keep the entire amount in one place, for example, in a wallet in a bag. If suddenly your bag is snatched, then the money will remain with you.
•  Count your change in stores, check your restaurant bill. This may seem stingy to you, but recently there are often cases when the final score is more than it should be. This is not always a deception, it may be a simple human error, when the waiter, when registering in the system, made a mistake and punched a bottle instead of a glass of wine.
•  Keep your bags closed and your eyes open. Backpackers need to be more attentive to their belongings behind their backs, especially in crowded places or in public transport. There are many beauties in Portugal, and tourists who look at them easily become victims of pickpockets.
• Photo and video equipment is the most easily accessible thing in the hands of a tourist, there are situations when cameras are taken out of the hands of tourists who are looking at their pictures on a camera. therefore we always hang large cameras around the neck, and wind the small ones around the hand.

Now, due to the popularity of Portugal among tourists, cases of fraud and theft have become more frequent. According to the police, in Portugal, this type of activity is mainly carried out by Roma, Romanians, Bulgarians and Croats. The most popular pickpockets are: trams, major attractions, busy streets and intersections.

What pickpockets look like: like ordinary tourists, in one hand a map, in the other - a phone of the latest model. These are decently dressed people who “squint” like tourists and very cleverly open their backpacks and bags. Sometimes, they pull money out of the wallet and return it to its place. Side and back pockets are easy bucks too.

If you feel that someone pushed you, immediately check your things and whether you have zipped bags.

Theft from rented apartments. This is not uncommon lately. Simple precautions will reduce the likelihood of this to a minimum:

• close windows and doors (even at night)
• do not leave documents, money, equipment in a visible place

When talking about fraud in Portugal, one cannot fail to mention the questionable weed and drug dealers. Walking along the streets, you will often hear "ash ash hashish", perhaps they will even offer you in Russian. However, you shouldn't relax this way. Do not buy anything, let alone consume anything. Firstly, it is harmful to health, and secondly, with a probability of 99.9%, drugs are not real.

All of the above are simple precautions to take on any trip abroad. Don't forget that Portugal is still one of the safest countries in Europe.

We already know about trains, now it's time to talk about the intercity bus service in Portugal. As you might guess, I will say that this type of public transport, i.e. the intercity bus network is also well developed in Portugal. In some cases, this will be a much more convenient way of moving around the country than the railroad.

Public transport:
intercity buses in Portugal

For those who do not plan during long trips around the country, but prefer to spend almost all their time in one or two places, for example, to be in, and then go to the Algarve and not leave anywhere, then the bus and train will be more convenient than car rental. The bus makes it possible to get to where trains do not go.

I must say that the railway stations of small towns in Portugal are often located outside the city itself, i.e. you will need a taxi or local bus to get to the city. Whereas intercity buses always reach the city center.

The main intercity bus carrier is the company Rede Nacional de Expressosor simply Rede expressos... This company carries out regular bus services only in Portugal itself. The buses are fast and comfortable, the service is normal.
On the company's website, you can choose the English language and already calmly view all the information: schedule, ticket prices, and also buy a ticket online.

Attention! You cannot eat and litter on buses, otherwise you will have to pay a fine. During long journeys, there are stops where you can get off the bus, go to the toilet, and have something to eat. Those. if you want to leave, be sure to ask the driver how long the stop will last 🙂

Mostly everyone arrives in airport and from there they plan all their trips around the country. In Lisbon, the main bus station is called 7 Rios (Sete Ryush), it is not very far from the airport.

7 Rios - Lisbon Central Bus Station

Address: Praça Mal. Humberto Delgado, 1500 Lisboa

How to get to the central bus station 7 Rios?

From airport: in addition to a taxi, you can get there by bus Aerobus, route 2.
you can find out more about this bus, timetable and ticket price. The bus goes right to the bus station itself, you don't have to go anywhere. The same goes in the opposite direction.

From the city: can be reached by train, metro and regular bus, of course. The train station is called 7 Rios (Sete Rush). The metro station is called Jardim Zoológico (Jardin to Zoolozhik). Buses: 31, 54, 70, 701, 716, 726, 746, 755 , 758, 768.

In general, both metro and railway stations are located in the same building ... I would say a building. There is only one exit from there and is located opposite the bus station. You need to cross a small path and go up the stairs or on an escalator to the bus station building.

Interesting! The bus station is next to the Lisbon Zoo. Maybe someone will want to have fun while waiting for the bus. Highly recommend!

How much will an intercity bus fare? Next, I would like to conduct an analysis similar to what I did for trains, i.e. most popular destinations Lisbon-Faro, Lisbon-Porto and Porto Faro.

How to get from Lisbon to Porto by bus?

Travel time: 3:30 - 4:00 am depending on departure time and itinerary.
Ticket price: regular ticket - 20 euros, round-trip - 36 euros.

How to get from Lisbon to Faro by bus?

Travel time: 3:15 am - 4:00 am depending on departure time and route.
Ticket price: regular ticket - 19.5 - 20.0 euros, round trip - 35.2 - 36.0 euros.

Some of the trips are made by another carrier company - Mundial Turismo(Mundial Turijmu).

How to get from Porto to Faro by bus?

Travel time: 8:30 - 13:00 depending on departure time and itinerary.
Ticket price: regular ticket - 31 euros, round-trip - 55.8 euros.

Attention! There are very few direct routes on the Porto Faro direction. Pay attention to possible transfers.

It is possible to buy a ticket online on the website of the carrier company (link above in the text). In the hottest period in the literal and figurative sense, i.e. in July-August it would be very helpful. And just not to stand in line ..

A few important points:

• How to find where the bus stops in the desired city?

Usually ticket sales points are stopping points (). If there are two or more ticket sales points in the city, then, as a rule, they stop at the first on the list.

• It is possible to book a ticket in advance, 14 days before the day of departure.
• If you could not print the purchased online ticket, then you need to save the reference number and show it at the ticket office or use an automatic terminal to print the ticket.
• If you missed your bus, tickets purchased online are not exchanged and money is not refunded.
• Luggage: you can carry up to 20 kg of luggage free of charge. If the driver thinks that you have exceeded the limit, then you will have to pay the excess.
• You can always buy tickets in advance in person, of course.
• Any information about the opening hours, timetables, as well as booking a ticket from Lisbon can be done through the call center 707 22 33 44 (daily from 8:00 to 20:00). Speak English.

Important! If you have just booked a ticket, then you must appear at the box office no later than 1 hour before the trip and redeem your ticket.

A long-term bus tour abroad or in your own country is a test: for your social skills, resilience and patience, health, body endurance and enthusiasm. Despite all of the above, a bus tour is also a significant cost saving, a great pleasure from staying in new places, behind which all difficulties are invisible, and an opportunity for people of any income to see the world. Young people are more likely to easily experience all the twists and turns and inconveniences, but tourists over 25 know better what to prepare for in order to get more pleasant impressions than negative ones.

The main and basic principle is compactness. There are a lot of people on the bus, and there is little space, so try to pick up all the things you need on the road as small as possible or easily foldable.

First of all, the most relevant - dry closet... The travel agency will assure you that the bus is equipped with an excellent toilet, and there will be no difficulties in this sense. In fact, most often they save on this "accessory", and at the very beginning of the trip the guide will give you a lecture that makes you feel ashamed to use the toilet on the bus. And this is actually justified. And even if you are very lucky, and everything is in order with it, there are a number of other problems on your face:
- a room with a dry closet is very cramped, so much so that in front, where the sitting ends, the door already begins;
- the room is not so airtight, therefore, if the amber goes, then it most often goes to the whole salon;
- do not forget about the fact that you need to gain the talent to do everything silently.

That is why this way of knowing the world around is contraindicated for travelers who have corresponding problems; the rest are advised to drink less, and not eat as much as you are used to at home, and use every opportunity during excursions or in hotels. Because drivers are also very - VERY - do not like to stop somewhere on the sidelines (in many countries it is simply prohibited) for the corresponding needs. And you often arrive at the hotel after midnight and later.

Seat on the bus... Very often, a tourist is assigned a seat on the bus immediately after buying a ticket. Due to the issue described above, the small TV in the front of the bus, and the fact that you will most likely want to ask the guide about something during your trip, it is best to make sure that you get a seat closer to the beginning of the bus or in the middle. In some regular buses, the dry closet is located in the middle: in this case, you need seats a couple of rows from the toilet in front, and further. You should not take the very first places either, because the tourists sitting behind will not give you peace of mind with questions to the guide, and you will become a free information desk.

After all, the front is simply less motion sick.
It is definitely better to take a seat by the window, especially if you are not a hyper-sociable person and like comfort: people passing through the cabin will touch you, your things, carry smells by; if you are sitting by the window, you can, as if by chance, turn off to the view passing by, and if you sit at the aisle, you either have to get bored or entertain the passengers on the right and left.

Comfort and efficiency... The bus often does not go according to schedule, tourists happen to be late on excursions, it is not uncommon to wait for people who have lost track of the time when they let you go shopping or just take a walk after the excursion. Long-term transfers, arrival and check-in at the hotel at 1 am, a couple of nights on the bus, a couple of stops for personal hygiene in public places, where everything is about 30 people, 40 minutes and only 6 sinks for each floor - in general, a normal thing for bus tours. And, moving from the bus to the hotel, you need to quickly pick up your things and not delay yourself and those around you.

1. Mobility and efficiency are very important: one small suitcase, which you can lift without any problems (and it is better to carry it on wheels, but the suitcase still should not be heavy) yourself; everything in the suitcase is laid out so that you can quickly and easily find, take out and then put away your essentials. Better yet, in addition to a personal bag (for women) and a suitcase, a small travel bag in which you can put everything from pills to personal care products, a book, a small towel, etc., and send it to the upper shelves in bus. Pack your travel bag and suitcase so that you do not need to take your travel bag with you when you transfer from the bus to an overnight stay at the hotel.

2. I strongly advise you to pay attention to comfortable clothes and shoes, in which you can spend hours sitting in a tight space, and later several hours without a break on excursions, and which is also easy and quick to put on and take off; and the appropriate, sorry, linen. The latter applies to the beautiful half of humanity: ladies and girls, if you do not pick up several options for a comfortable "top" for a trip, hell awaits you.

3. Be sure to stock up on a small, soft, perhaps even the appropriate shape (letter P) pillow for the trip. So that the neck does not hurt and it is more comfortable to doze: the head on the pillow will not wiggle back and forth. Best of all is an inflatable one with a cloth cover - so that it does not creak, and it is more convenient for you. An inflatable pillow will also save valuable space in your luggage.

Medicines... On a trip, it often happens that the body gathers in critical conditions and bothers you less than at home. But in a state of stress from a completely knocked down regime, a constantly uncomfortable position of the body, a change in diet and a huge increase in physical activity on the body, completely opposite cases are not uncommon, when in the presence of certain diseases the state of health worsens. Therefore, it is important to have with you all the medications that you take constantly, and with a margin, as well as to provide for all the main options for the development of events and take with you additional medications for digestion, flatulence, edema, etc.

For everyone else, in any case, it is very desirable to have in a travel first-aid kit: anti-allergenic pills that interact without problems with alcohol, for example Kestin (few people know their body to the end, and you will most likely visit restaurants on a trip, as well as taste local exotic cuisine and fruits and vegetables), a remedy like metronidazole, a remedy for heartburn (it is better in combination: a remedy to calm the stomach and esophagus in general), a good pain reliever, anti-inflammatory ointment, a lot of plaster, chlorhexidine (it will help, and if the throat hurts, it will disinfect the wound and etc.), a tightening bandage (for those who are not used to walking a lot) and appropriate pills, like Detralex, will not hurt.

Nowadays, in some countries, a number of drugs are prohibited from being transported across the border, keep this in mind. Of course, you can rely on local pharmacies that come across along the way (if they come across), but are you sure that you can explain to a foreigner what exactly you need?

By the way, many brands offer a special plastic case with one lid, divided into many cells inside. At first glance, you might think that it is extremely convenient, but, as a rule, a tight plastic latch gives in with difficulty, and there are no separate covers on each cell. As a result, if you jerk, shake when opening, or even worse - knock over the open box, everything will scatter on the floor, and / or, moreover, it will mix and become unusable. So it is better to transport medicines in separate or original packaging.

Clothing Supplement... In addition to the above, do not forget that it can be hot on the bus, but cold outside, so a sweater, jacket or any other non-bulky outerwear that can be easily and quickly put on will not hurt in the cabin.

Shoes should be strong, comfortable, not new (guaranteed not to squeeze and chafe) and not too hot, while it is very desirable to be closed (closed room, many people, a lot of walking, you know).

Perhaps you will need special preventive tights or knee-highs so that your legs do not get tired - constant walking, jumping from the bus and back: this is not easy for trained people, especially for those who are not used to moving a lot.

Food... Be sure to take tea with you, as well as hiking semi-finished products, from which you can make a more or less complete ready-made hot dish in five minutes using boiling water.
With long hauls, there are often no stops at restaurants, and if you stop by the eatery, it is very likely that you will not find anything either within your means or, in principle, edible, and, believe me, you will not go far on energy bars and nuts. Collect vermicelli / dry puree with you in a bag, and other analogs in special glasses (instant) in order to have at least a surrogate of hot food at hand (there must be a device with boiling water in the cabin). So that people don't talk about such products, it's better with them here than without them.
Do not take canned oil (you will dirty everything around), eggs (there will be nowhere to decompose), or chicken and perishable foods.

Cosmetics and protection... It will be much more convenient for you to use multidisciplinary products, for example, shampoo and shower gel in one bottle, body and hand cream, shampoo after which no conditioner is required, etc. This will save precious space in your luggage, and you do not need to shower will carry with him an armful of tubes and jars.

Try not to use cosmetics, deodorants and perfumes with intense, pungent odors - again, because of close contact with people in the cramped space of the salon and two not close people living in the same room.

Do not take new products on a trip, choose only proven ones: your skin will experience tremendous stress anyway, you should not aggravate it.

Finally, choose only reliable means of protection - we mean deodorants. Often, a trip between two "souls" can take up to 18 hours, and this is subject to constant excursions and running around for shopping. In addition, in 50% of tourists in such conditions, the metabolism begins to dance the mamba. Therefore, enlist the support of reliable appropriate means, if necessary, ask for advice on choosing from friends / relatives.

Due to active dehydration and contamination, you will need at least 2 basic products: a moisturizer and an excellent but gentle cleansing (foam wash).

Antiseptic gel or wet wipes with the appropriate composition will not interfere very, very much: to wipe your hands in the cabin after an excursion or before eating, and not only your hands, and not only in the cabin.

Small (0.33) bottle of water... Grab a fresh one for hiking sightseeing. If you did not know what dehydration is, on a bus tour you are threatened with a direct acquaintance: lack of strength, brain function, falling on the road.

Last but not least: container for souvenirs... Oddly enough it sounds now, but containers with strong walls will not hurt you at all: for foreign chocolate, some fragile handicrafts, and, in principle, for expensive purchases. If there is free space in your suitcase, take a sturdy box with you: believe me, you will not regret it.

But in fact, everything is not nearly as scary as it might seem. Just get ready in advance and enjoy your journey beyond measure!

When buying tickets, the regulars of bus tours pay attention to the location of the seats. Why is it important? Let's explain with an example.

Imagine that you have planned a trip for a long time, thought out the route, chose, as it seemed to you, a good place - with an excellent view, in the middle of the bus, not far from the door. And then it turned out that it is almost the only one that does not unfold. Everything would be fine, but only when the passengers in front reclined their seats, you found yourself squeezed on both sides. As a result, what was dreamed of as a wonderful journey turned into torture.

We will tell you about all the nuances that need to be taken into account when choosing a seat on the bus in order not to get into a similar story in the article.

Long-distance buses - good and different

If you think that it is enough to know the seat number to understand how comfortable it is, you are deeply mistaken. The fleet of modern long-distance buses (ADS) is so diverse that until you see the interior layout, it is too early to draw conclusions.

For example, you got the seat number 14. In the tourist MAN for 59 seats, this is the beginning of the salon, the 4th row; but in the saloon of the same model with 45 seats, chair number 14 is in front of the door and, most likely, does not recline. In a 20-seater Mercedes the same number 14 is located on the left by the window at the end of the cabin, and in a 45-seater - on the right by the aisle, row 4. And there are a lot of such examples.

Even the typical scheme of a specific model is not always accurate, since the carrier has the right to make design changes - add a bathroom, a kitchen, remove some of the seats (for example, the back row) by equipping a sleeping or cargo compartment.

Site selection criteria

As you know, there is no dispute about tastes, so everyone may have their own criteria for choosing a convenient place. Experienced tourists recommend first of all to take into account such parameters as:

• safety;
• the location of the seats in relation to the door;
• salon segment (beginning, middle, end).

Let's dwell on them in more detail.

Dangerous and safe

Traffic incidents involving ADF are reported at alarming rates, making it the # 1 task for every traveler to reach their destination safe and sound.

What places are potentially dangerous?

• First row, especially to the right of the aisle. In a head-on collision, they are the first to be hit.
• The last row can be damaged if the blow comes from behind. In addition, with sharp braking, the passengers in the back row have a higher risk of injury, flying into the aisle.
• Seats by the window on the left side of the salon. We have right-hand traffic, so this side of the bus is always turned towards the flow of cars.

The safest places on a long-distance bus are as follows.

• In the middle of the passenger compartment on the right side. But even in this relatively safe area, it is better to sit not by the window, but by the aisle.
• The seats are right behind the driver. It is believed that the driver, instinctively avoiding danger, removes this zone from the impact, and, on the contrary, substitutes the right side.

"Insidious" - next to the door

The places located in the immediate vicinity of the door are distinguished by a special "cunning".

If they are behind it, in winter and autumn, this is a zone of cold air currents that fall on passengers every time the door is opened. By the way, in the summer the influx of fresh air can rather be attributed to the pluses.

If the seats are on the right-hand side in front of the door in the middle of the passenger compartment, they do not recline. This is designed so as not to interfere with people getting off at stops. Usually such seats are cheaper, but passengers do not always fully understand the reason for the bonus.

The area next to the door is not devoid of merit. You will be the first to get off the bus in the parking lot, therefore, you will quickly get to the buffet, toilet, or just have time to smoke.

Disadvantages of the rear rows

Few people like the last row in ADS. And there are reasons for this.

• It shakes harder here, and people with seasickness get seasick.
• The backs of the chairs do not recline, which means there is no way to relax, take a nap.
• If not the climate control system is used to cool the air, but a general air conditioner, it blows strongly from behind.
• If there is only one TV, it cannot be seen or heard from the back row. The same is with the guide during the tour.

Some tour operators usually sell two tickets for the last row of 5 seats. Then their owners will have the opportunity not only to sit down, but also to lie down fully.

Features of the choice of a seat in a double-decker bus

The travel agency can offer you a ride on a double-decker bus. This vehicle has a different layout and features.

To determine what works best for you, examine the pros and cons of each floor.

Advantages of the first floor:

• spacious salon;
• there are fewer people than above;
• comfortable tables;
• next to a bathroom, a kitchen, a water cooler, a refrigerator.

Of the cons

The salon is located low in relation to the road, so you won't be able to admire the panoramic views.

Be prepared for the fact that in the evening the drivers will continue to chat, and perhaps listen to music or watch a movie.

Second floor advantages

• excellent panoramic view;
• silence in the evening, because the drivers are downstairs.

There are also disadvantages

It is closer here than on the first floor, which will be especially felt by tall and obese passengers.

Be prepared to descend each time to take advantage of the facilities or during parking. The second floor is not for people with disabilities.

And instead of a conclusion. Having chosen a place to your liking, make sure that it is officially indicated in the voucher (everything is clear with the ticket), otherwise it will turn out, as in that joke - whoever got up earlier has slippers.